"I was one of the victims, the blood test didn't turn out normal for Ehrlichiosis," said Rapacz.

Ehrlichiosis is an infectious disease that is spread to humans by a tick-borne bacteria.

The disease was identified through DNA tests conducted at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and medical personnel are now trying to spread the word about the danger.

Dr. Bobbi Pritt, a lab director at the Mayo Clinic said, "Ehrlichiosis due to any cause was not thought to occur in Minnesota and Wisconsin, which is where all our cases have been found to date. So we really want to get this message out to physicians."

Ehrlichiosis was familiar to medical experts, but Joe's strain was different. The Mayo Clinic isolated a new species of bacteria that caused his infection.

"This does look like it is a new bacterium never described before in the world. It is in the genus Ehrlichia, so it is a type of bacteria. It causes a disease called Ehrlichiosis in humans. We think it is mostly transferred to humans by the deer tick," said Dr. Pritt.

The diagnosis was a surprise to Joe Rapacz.

He said, "It was the first week of summer vacation and I'm up here working and not feeling too well and my wife says I was the sickest I have ever been."